DENVER—A gaffe by Colorado Republican Ken Buck is the focus of the Democrats’ second ad blasting GOP Senate candidates.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s ad points out that Buck said at a campaign appearance more than a year ago that he would support repealing the 17th Amendment, which set up direct election of U.S. senators. Buck quickly took back his statement, saying he misspoke. The ad doesn’t mention the change and calls Buck “too extreme for Colorado.”
“Ken Buck actually proposed ending our right to vote for our own senator,” the ad states.
A spokeswoman for the Democrats wouldn’t say how much the ad cost. But Buck’s spokesman, Owen Loftus, said it is running statewide and cost more than $400,000.
The DSCC’s first negative ad against Republican Senate contenders targeted Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey earlier this month.
The Buck ad references remarks he made last summer. Asked about repealing the 17th Amendment, Buck said he wasn’t sure it would be possible in the short term but could be “when people understand just what a horrendous effect the 17th Amendment has been on the federal government’s spending.”
Buck’s campaign says Buck called the questioner the next day to say he misspoke and doesn’t support repealing the amendment. Before the 17th Amendment was adopted in 1913, senators were elected by state legislatures. Some conservatives say state governments have been weakened by the direct election of senators.
Loftus said the ad is ironic considering Bennet was appointed, not elected, to his seat last year by Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter. Bennet was appointed to fill the term of former Sen. Ken Salazar after he became interior secretary; Bennet is seeking election to a full term this November.
“Michael Bennet was chosen by one guy in a back room, and he’s not representing Colorado,” Loftus scoffed.
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